Swivel connection



Nov. 29, 1966 c. ROMAY ,2,59

SWIVEL CONNECTION Filed June l5, 1.964

INVENTOR CLETUS ROMAY ATTOR NEYS United States Patent O 3,288,502 SWIVEL CNNECTION Cletus Romay, St. Louis, Mo., assignoi` to Welsh Co., St. Louis, Mo., a corporation of Missouri Filed .lune 15, 1964, Ser. No. 375,148 Claims. (Cl. 287-91) This invention relates generally to improvements in a swivel connection, and more particularly to an improved connectio-n of this type between a pair of tubes comprising the parts of a hanger assembly for a childs car seat.

A portable seat designed lor infants or small children i-s available for use in automobiles, such seat including a frame with a fabric or plastic covering to support the child. As is usual, the seat frame has a pair of hooks at the back which lit over the top of the back rest of the automobile seat and which hold the childs seat in an elevated position so that the child can see out the windows. lt is advantageous to make this unit collapsi- -ble so that it can be optionally utilized or conveniently stored. An important object of the present invention is to provide swivel connections for the `hanger assembly which allow the hooks to be -folded flat selectively with the back portion of the childs seat in order to present a small compact unit for storage or packaging.

Another important object is achieved by the provision of a swivel connection between a pair of tubes disposed with ends telescopically related, the connection including a bar located in and extending between the tube ends, the bar having a head that rotatively engage-s an internal shoulder on one of the tubes, and means attaching the bar to the other tube.

Still another important object is alforded by providing an enlarged head at one end of the bar which rotatively engages -a rearwardly facing shoulder formed internally of one tube, and by ixing the end of an elongate relatively reduced shank to the other tube. An economy in manufacturing is realized by constructing this bar of a flat `strip of sheet material.

An importa-nt object is attained by the structural .arrangement in which one of the trubes has a reduced end that loosely interts the other tube end, the reduced tube end forming the rearwardly facing shoulder. The bar is positioned so that the head rotatively engalges the shoulder, while the elongate shank extends through the reduced tube end and into the other tube end for attachment thereto.

Another important object is realized by Ireducing the one tube end `as by swedging, and thereby providing a rounded .annular internal shoulder that conforms substantially to a compatible rounded surface formed on lthe lbar head, such structure facilitating the relative swivel action between the tubes.

Yet another important objective is provided by bending that portion of the tube rearwardly of the bar head to :form a hook constituting a hanger for the childs car seat, the hook having a conliguration that precludes rnovement of the bar to and through the other end of the tube after the bar has been disposed in and placed at the reduced tube end.

An important Iobject is to provide a swivel connection that is especially suitable in a hanger assembly for a childs car seat, such swivel connection being simple and durable in construction, economical to manufacture and assemble, efiicient in operation, and which optionally allows the hooks to be folded or extended for either storage or use respectively.

The foregoing `and numerous other objectsand advantages of the invention will more clearly appear from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment, particularly when considered in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. l is a perspective view of a childs car seat in which the swivel connection is utilized;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view, partially in cross section of the handger assembly illustrating the swivel connection between the hook and back frame tubes;

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional View as seen along line 3-3 of FIG. 2, and

FIG. 4 is .an enlarged cross sectional View as seen along line 4 4 off FIG. 3.

Referring now by characters of reference to the drawing, and first to FIG. 1, there is illustrated for the purpose of providing a full and complete disclosure, a childs car seat in which the swivel connection is utilized. The car seat includes a U-shaped tube 10 constituting a back frame member. The U-shaped tube 10 includes spaced side arms 9 having tube ends 11 (FIG. 2). Attac-hed to each of the tube ends 11 is a hook tube 12. As will later appear, the hook tubes 12 4are bent to con-form to the configuration of the top portion of the back rest of an automobile seat. These hook tubes 12 tit over the back rest of the automobile seat and support the childs car seat in an elevated position. Por purposes of safety and to eliminate rough edges on the hook tubes 12, the rear ends 13 are provided with resilient caps 14 made of rubber, plastic or like material.

Extending forwardly from the side arms 9 of back frame 1l) is a substantially -U-shaped front fname 15 having side arms 16 integrally interconnected by a front bar 17. A pair of side brackets 20 fasten each end of the front frame 15 to one of the side arms 9 of the back fra-me 10. The front frame 15 defines the space in which the chil-d is placed.

The supporting member generally indicated at 21 is constructed of a lfabric or plastic material, and includes a back panel 22 extending between the side arms 9 of the back frame 10. Reversely formed loops 23 attach the back panel 22 to the tube ends 11 and the hook tubes 12. The supporting member 21 includes a bottom panel 24 formed integrally with the back panel 22 and extending forwardly below the yt'ront Iframe 15. Side panels 25 extend upwardly from the bottom panel 24 and are secured to the side .arms 16 of the front frame 15 by reversely formed loops 26. A lfront panel 27 extends upwardly from the bottom panel 24 `and is secured to the front bar 17 by va reversely formed loop 30. A pair of laterally spaced open-ings I31 are formed in the front panel 27 through which the legs of the child can extend when the child is sitting 1in the supporting member 21.

A strap 32 extends between and is attached to the side arms 9 of the U-shaped tube 10. The strap 32 is of the type that can be wrapped around the torso of the child when the child is placed and seated in the supporting member 21, the strap 32 confining the child and holding the child in the seated position, and thereby acting as a safety belt.

The swivel connections between the hook tubes 12 and the spaced side arms 9 of the U-shaped tube 10 constituting the back frame are identical in construction so that a detailed'description of one will sulice for the other. The structural arrangement and interconnection of the swivel connection is best shown in FIGS. 2-4.

As is illustrated, the side tube portion 9 and the hook tube 12 are axially aligned in end to end relation, and are telescopically disposed, one tube within the other. Specifically, the hook tube' 12 is swedged or reduced to provide a smaller tube end 32 having an outside dimension to interlit loosely within the tube end 11. The reduced tube end 32 forms a rearwardly facing internal,

annular shoulder 33 that is slightly rounded in configuration.

A bar 34 preferably constructed of a at strip material includes a head 35 at one end and an integral elongate shank 36, the bar 34 being located in and extending between the tube ends 11 and 12.

The bar head 35 is of a width less than the internal dimension of the hook tube 12 yet greater than the internal dimension of the reduced tube end 32, the head 35 rotatively engaging the annular shoulder 33 to enable relative rotation of the tubes and to preclude movement of the bar 34 from the reduced tube end 32. The bar head 35 is provided with a rounded surface 37 that conforms substantially to the rounded configuration of the annular shoulder 33.

The elongate shank 36 is of a width less than the internal dimension of the reduced tube end 32 to enable the shank to extend through the reduced tube end and into the other tube end 11. The end of shank 36 is fastened to the tube end 11 by a transverse pin 40 as provided by a rivet. The pin 40 precludes relative rotation of the bar 34 and the tube end 11.

To manufacture and assemble this swivel connection, the hook tube 12 is swedged at one end to provide the reduced tube end 32. Then, the bar 34 is inserted shank first into the opposite end 13. The bar 34 slides longitudinally along the tube 12 until the head 35 engages the annular shoulder 33. While the bar 34 is positioned in this manner, that portion of the tube 12 rearwardly of the bar head 35 is bent to form the hook formation as illustrated in FIG. 2, the hook formation having sufficient curvature so that the bar 34 cannot slide back through the tube 12 and out the tube end 13. The bar 34 is now held securely within the hook tube 12.

With the bar head 35 engaging the annular shoulder 33 and the shank 36 projecting through and beyond the reduced tube end 32, the reduced tube end 32 is telescopically introduced into the open tube end 11. Then, the pin 40 is inserted transversely through the tube end 11 and through the shank 36. The transverse pin 40 provided by a rivet or other equivalent fastening element secures the shank 36 to the tube end 11 and precludes relative rotation.

The hook tube 12 can now be selectively rotated to `any desired position. As for example, the hook tubes can be moved to the rearwardly extended position illustrated in FIG. 1, especially adapted to hook over the top portion of the back rest of an automobile seat, and conversely, when the hook tubes 12 are removed from the automobile seat back rest, the hook tubes 12 can be rotated to a folded or collapsed position substantially in the same plane with the side portions 9 of the U- shaped tube 10. During this swivel movement of the hook tubes 12, the reduced tube ends 32 rotate freely within the tube ends 11, and the bar heads 35 slidably bear against the annular shoulders 33.

Although the invention has been described by making detailed reference to a single preferred embodiment, such detail is to be understood in :an instructive, rather than in any restrictive sense, many variants being possible within the scope of .the claims hereunto appended.

I claim as my invention:

1. A swivel connection comprising:

(a) a pair of tubes,

(b) one of the tubes having its end reduced and rotatably interitting loosely in the end of the other tube for relative rotation of the tubes, the reduced tube end providing an intern-al annular shoulder facing away from the reduced tube end.

(c) a bar having a head and an elongate shank, the head rotatively engaging the shoulder and the shank extending through the reduced tube end and into the other tube end, and

(d) means attaching the shank to the other tube and so as to preclude relative rotation of the bar and said other tube,

(e) the reduced tube end rotating freely in the other tube end while the Ibar head rotatively engages the internal shoulder to enable such rotation of the tube ends and to preclude detachment of the tube ends.

2. A swivel connection comprising:

(a) a pair of tubes,

(b) one of the tubes having its end swedged to intert loosely in the end of the other tube, the swedged tube end providing a rearwardly facing internal shoulder that is rounded and annular,

(c) a bar having a head and an elongate shank, the head having 'a rounded surface confor-ming to the rounded shoulder and rotatively engaging the shoulder, and the shank extending through the swedged tube end and into the other tube end, and

(d) means attaching the shank to the other tube end.

3. A swivel connection comprising:

(a) a pair of tubes,

(b) one of the tubes having its end reduced to intert loosely in the end of the other tube, the reduced tube end providing 1a rearwardly facing annular shoulder,

(c) a bar consisting of a flat strip having an enlarged head and an elongate reduced shank, the head rotatively engaging the shoulder, and the reduced shank extending through the reduced tube end and into the other tube end, :and

(d) a pin fixing the shank to the other tube end.

4. A swivel connection for a hanger assembly in a childs car seat:

(a) a pair of tubes,

(b) one of the tubes having its end reduced to interit loosely in the end of the other tube, the reduced` tube end providing a rearwardly facing internal shoulder, the shoulderi being rounded and being annular,

(c) a bar consisting of a flat strip having an enlarged head and an integral elongate relatively reduced shank,

(d) the head having a rounded surface conforming to the rounded shoulder and rotatively engaging the annular shoulder,

(e) the shank extending through the reduced tube end and into the other tube end, and

(f) a pin fixing the end of the shank to the other tube end to preclude relative rotation of the bar.

(g) the reduced tube end rotating freely in the other tube end while the bar head rotatively engages the internal shoulder, the engagement of the bar head and internal shoulder precluding detachment of the telescopically related tube ends.

5. A swivel connection in a hanger assembly for a child car seat comprising:

(a) a pair of tubes,

(b) one of the tubes having its end reduced and interfitting loosely and telescopically in the end of the other tube,

(c) the reduced tube end providing a rearwardly facing internal shoulder, the shoulder being rounded and being annular,

(d) a bar located in `and extending between the tube ends, the bar having a head of a width less than the internal dimension of the said one ltube yet greater than the internal dimension of its reduced end,

(e) the head being rounded to conform to the rounded shoulder and rotatively engaging the annular shoulder to enable relative rotation of the tubes and to preclude movement of the bar from the reduced tube end,

(f) the bar having an elongate shank of a width less than the internal dimension of the reduced tube end,

(g) the shank extending through the reduced tube end and into the other tube end, `and (h) a pin xing the shank -to the said other tube end so as to preclude relative rotation and to hold the tubes in assembly,

(i) the tube having the reduced end providing a bend rearwardly of the bar head to provide a hook of sucient curvature to preclude movement of the bar to and through the other end of the said tube after References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS CARL W. TOMLIN, Primary Examiner. the bar has been disposed at the reduced tube end. 10 A. V. KUNDRAT, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A SWIVEL CONNECTION COMPRISING: (A) A PAIR OF TUBES, (B) ONE OF THE TUBES HAVING ITS END REDUCED AND ROTATABLY INTERFITTING LOOSELY IN THE END OF THE OTHER TUBE FOR RELATIVE ROTATION OF THE TUBES, THE REDUCED TUBE END PROVIDING AN INTERNAL ANNULAR SHOULDER FACING AWAY FROM THE REDUCED TUBE END. (C) A BAR HAVING A HEAD AND AN ELONGATE SHANK, THE HEAD ROTATIVELY ENGAGING THE SHOULDER AND THE SHANK EXTENDING THROUGH THE REDUCED TUBE END AND INTO THE OTHER TUBE END, AND (D) MEANS ATTACHING THE SHANK TO THE OTHER TUBE AND SO AS TO PRECLUDE RELATIVE ROTATION OF THE BAR AND SAID OTHER TUBE, (E) THE REDUCED TUBE END ROTATING FREELY IN THE OTHER TUBE END WHILE THE BAR HEAD ROTATIVELY ENGAGES THE INTERNAL SHOULDER TO ENABLE SUCH ROTATION OF THE TUBE ENDS AND TO PRECLUDE DETACHMENT OF THE TUBE ENDS. 